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Bucs lose two with big value

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 20, 2000

CHICAGO -- If you listed the 53 Bucs in order of who the team could least afford to lose, running back Mike Alstott and strong safety John Lynch would definitely be in the top 10.

But both were out of the game midway through the second quarter Sunday and it was unclear when the Pro Bowlers would return. Lynch dislocated his right shoulder in the first quarter, while Alstott sprained his left knee in the second.

Lynch got caught in a swarm aimed at Bears running back James Allen and ended up writhing in pain on the field before walking off on his own power.

"I got my arm up on his shoulder pad and it yanked out," Lynch said. "It was a freak deal. Hopefully, it'll come back quickly. I guess we'll take a test today and see the extent of it. Get back to rehabbing and get back on the field as soon as possible."

Alstott went down after going off left guard for 3 yards. He pounded the ground in pain with his right hand as he grabbed his left knee with his left hand.

"I just got bent up and the lower part of my leg didn't move compared to the top of my leg," Alstott said. "We'll find out. We'll know tomorrow."

The prognosis for Lynch is somewhat optimistic; Alstott's prospects are more grim. Lynch's shoulder slipped back in and he told coaches he could have gone back in the game. He might play this week.

Alstott was helped off the field and taken to the locker room on a cart. He was on crutches after the game with a brace on his knee.

FILLING IN: The Bucs compensated for those key losses. Warrick Dunn, who has been getting more carries recently, took on an even larger load after Alstott went out. Dunn finished with 75 yards on 17 carries.

"I don't think it really had a very big mental effect," Dunn said. "I think the guys knew that now it was time to raise it up a little bit more because one of your guns is gone. We tried to do that. We came out in the third quarter, moved the ball down the field, scored a touchdown."

Free safety Damien Robinson moved to strong safety in place of Lynch and Dexter Jackson stepped in at free safety. Robinson had six tackles and an interception. Jackson also had six tackles.

"I feel like I played pretty good, great ball actually," Jackson said. "I didn't have any mistakes, made every tackle I came up on and had a couple of good licks. I think I played fairly decently."

HEY, BRAD: Former Bucs defensive tackle Brad Culpepper visited with several Bucs after the game and got a warm greeting. Culpepper, who joined the Bears in August after being released by the Bucs, said winning against his former team was special, especially because Tampa Bay beat Chicago 41-0 in September.

"I think, more importantly, the Bears organization and this team gained a little bit of the respect that they probably lost in the last game (against the Bucs), and that's why it feels a little bit better," Culpepper said.

Culpepper said the transition has been difficult as he continues to learn a new system and adjust to no longer being a starter. The bright side, however, has been a chance to spend more time with his wife, Monica, and sons Rex and Judge.

"I'm not distracted by TV shows, radio shows, anything like that," he said. " ... Maybe God was telling me to slow down because the family time I've had has been tremendous with my wife and my two kids."

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